Preview: Florida Panthers vs. Detroit Red Wings, 4 p.m. Sunday

March 31, 2012|By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel

When/Where: 4 p.m., Joe Louis Arena

TV: FSF and NHL Network Radio: 560-AM

Scouting report: Critical game for both teams as Panthers are desperately fending off the Washington Captials and Buffalo Sabres for a playoff berth, while the Red Wings are battling the Nashville Predators for the fourth spot in the Western Conference and home-ice advantage. Nashville beat host Detroit 4-1 Friday even with the return of injury-prone goalie Jimmy Howard, handing the Red Wings their eighth loss in their last 10 games. Detroit is three points away from extending their NHL record with 12 straight 100-point seasons. The Panthers have won just 4 of 22 games against the Red Wings but did win the last game in Sunrise, 2-1 in overtime, in Nov. 2009. LW Henrik Zetterberg paces the Wings with 68 points and has nine points (4-5) in past five games. C Pavel Datsyuk, arguably the best player in the league, is plus-18 with 64 points. Iconic D Nicklas Lidstrom is plus-23.